snapshot of spirit photography
DESCRIPTION
Brief details on the topic of spirit photography and the novel Ghostly Images which deals with Victorian spirit photography.TRANSCRIPT
The novelis set inWhitby
£9.99
From TheWhitby Bookshop
or Holmans
or Amazon
Frederick Hudson (UK)
• Critical voices within Spiritualism thought he had prepared his plates in advance.
• Or double-printed two negative plates into one print.
• Or had accomplishes dressed up as ghosts.
• Spiritualist Magazine (1872) –Pattern of a background carpet was seen through the dress of a woman having her photograph taken.
Dr Eric Dingwall
Researcher for the Society for Psychical Research
After studying spirit photographs for the best part of a lifetime he was dismissive and saw them as little more than fakes.
Days of spirit photographers like Mumler, Deane and others over.
Now replaced by amateur ghost hunters and professional paranormal investigators.
Spirit photography still finds an audience
BUT now orbs/blobs/streaks
Cheroux & Fischer
Yale University Press, 2005
“The fact that those images of ghosts, spirits, and séances continue to fascinate viewers today is a testament to human curiosity and the continuing allure of the unknown.”
About Spirit Photography
Jolly states:
“They now speak to us more strongly of faith, desire, loss and love, thangullibility.”(The British Library, 2006.)
Ludicrous or Miraculous?
The American Museum of Photography in their section Do You Believe? Science vs. Séance has a selection of Victorian ghost photos. It states:
“Many of the images presented here have been studied and debated for nearly a century. Whether they are ludicrous or miraculous is in the eye of the beholder.”